USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I > Part 17
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E. S. Brownmiller (L.), 95
St. John's (S. Spring) (L.), 1897. .J. W. Lazarus, 328 Union :
St. James (Geigertown) (L.), 1850-'96. .Z. H. Gable, 75
.
FRIENDS
Exeter: Maiden-creek:
Orthodox 1759
Hicksite .1853 1745 Bern: Robeson: 1735
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL
Amity:
St. Gabriel's, 1765-1800-'84. Wm. R. Holloway, 41 Caernarvon:
St. Thomas, 1740-1824 (vacant), 29
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Washington:
Charles Sauer, 1,000
Bally, 1743-1837
PRESBYTERIAN
Heidelberg:
Robesonia Chapel, 1869
METHODIST EPISCOPAL
Caernarvon :
Morgantown, 1832-'78
W. C. Amthor,
206
Harmony, 1871.
I. S. Seitz
Union :
Forest, 1773-1858.
.I. S. Seitz
Monocacy, 1873.
A. I. Collom,
20
BAPTIST
Caernarvon : Rock, 1844.
(vacant), 15 Cumru:
Millmont, 1893.
J. A. Maxwell
MENNONITE
Brecknock .
Allegheny and Gehman. These two churches are connected with Bowmansville, in Lancaster county, under Bishop Benjamin Weaver.
Bally-Old, 1743-1899
S Andrew Mack
90
\ John Ehst
New, 1851-'97
A. S. Shelly,
206
SCHWENKFELDER
Washington:
1824-'83
O. S. Kriebel
EVANGELICAL
Albany:
Zion's, 1S72.
G. Burrell,
6
Salem, 1883
G. Burrell,
26
Bern:
Centreville, 1852 N. Simon, 3 Centre: Jerusalem, 1863 N. Simon, 11 Colebrookdalc: New Berlinville, 1850
Longswamp : Shamrock, 1870.
Maiden-crock: Blandon, 1875 N. Simon, 33
Ontelaunec :
Leesport, 1901 N. Simon, 23
Penn:
1852-'72-'83
Shoemakersville, 1857 N. Simon, 18 Tulpchocken:
St. Paul's, 1852.
UNITED EVANGELICAL
Heidelberg: Robesonia, 1895 S. Buntz
Hereford:
Bethesda Thomas Knecht Olcy: 1725
Friedensburg, 1881-'89-'95 John T. Layton Į 127 Pleasantville, 1869-'95 . John T. Layton S Richmond :
Virginville, 1883-'95 H. J. Kline
Ruscombmanor:
Pricetown, 1857-'95
John T. Layton
Perry:
51
EDUCATION IN COUNTY
Spring:
Mohn's Hill, 1845-'95. - C. S. Mengel, 30
Washington:
Clayton, 1899. Thomas Knecht
GERMAN BAPTIST BRETHREN
Perry:
Mohrsville (continuation of North-kill Church), 1748
(vacant),
42
- Washington
Supt.
Members
Good Shepherd Reformed, Boyer- town
.Daniel D. Leidy 436
St. John's Lutheran, Boyertown. . Thos. R. Houck 646
Ebenezer M. E., Boyertown W. W. Wrenn 74
Trinity U. E., Boyertown E. E. Stauffer 109
Hereford New Mennonite, Here- ford
Dr. O. M. Burkey 178
Brethren, Boyertown
F. Ritter 85
Perry:
Salem, 1876
ville
Trinity Union, Bechtelsville Alfred Brumbach 292
Spring: Sinking Spring, 1867
Tilden:
Loose's, 1870
Tulpehocken:
Trinity, 1848-'85
SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF BERKS COUNTY
The thirty-third annual convention of the Berks County Sunday School Association was held in the First Presbyterian Church at Reading on April 22, 1909, and the attendance was very large. The county has been divided into eighteen districts and all of them were represented. Thirteen religious denominations were represented.
The association was organized in 1875 with J. H. Sternbergh as the first president and Lewis Crater as the secretary. In 1881 Samuel J. Weiler was elected secretary, and he has served continuously until the present in a most efficient manner, without compensation. He prepared the following valuable statement, which shows the Sunday-schools of the respective denominations, the superintendents, and the membership. Charles H. Leinbach, superin- tendent of St. Andrew's Reformed Sunday-school, served as president for the year 1908-09, and was re-elected to serve for the year 1909-10.
Ist District-Birdsboro, Union
Name
Supt.
Members
Birdsboro M. E., Birdsboro. G. F. Handwork
268
Monocacy M. E., Monocacy . Caleb H. Bland 89
Trinity Evan, Birdsboro. . Ed. McChalacker 332
Calvary U. E., Birdsboro ... . Anna Willard
138
Grace U. B., Birdsboro. : . S. C. Millard
146
St. Mark's Lutheran, Birdsboro .. . Charles Rhoads
224
St. Paul's Reformed, Birdsboro .. Jacob De - Turk
113
St. Michael's Episcopal, Birdsboro. . Harry Kissinger Kulptown Union, Union James Blood
80
Cedar Hill Union, Union .. Harry Hoffman 60
St. Paul's M. E., Geigertown. L. M. High 122
St. James' Lutheran, Geigertown. .. E. M. Zerr 63
1,776
2d District-Robeson, Caernarvon
Name
Supt.
St. John's Union, Gibraltar. . H. K. Winings 234
Robeson Union, Plowville .. M. J. Eshleman
145
Harmony M. E., Joanna .. .J. W. Jacobs
£5
Mt. Shiloh Evan., nr. Morgantown. Aaron Trait
Morgantown M. E., Morgantown .. George H. Muhlenberg Gibraltar Union, Gibraltar .... .. Samuel W. Kerst. 172
Seyfert Holiness Chris., Seyfert .... A. J. Smith 81
Zion's Union, Robeson. . . W. Piersol 116
1,003
3d District-Lenhartsville, Greenwich, Albany
Name
Supt. Members
Bethel Zions Union, Grimville ... A. A. Fister 117 Clover Mill Union. Stony Run. ... Fred Feinour $9 Dunkel's Church Union, Virginville C. S. Merkel 116
*The word Union after the name of the Sunday-school indicates Lutheran and Reformed combined.
Eckville Union, Albany. Reuben Bolich 33
Frieden's Union, Stony Run. ...... James A. Schroeder
161
Kempton Union, Kempton. . James Leibold 60
James S. Focht 76
New Bethel Union, Kempton. ... Lenhartsville Union, Lenhartsville.A. B. Greenawalt 270 New Jerusalem Union, Stony Run. . Calvin Krause 106 Salem Evangelical, Albany. . James E. Snyder 60
St. Paul's Union, Virginville. . Milton L. Leiby 94
1,171
4th District-Boyertown, Bechtelsville, Colebrookdale, Douglass,
Ruscombmanor:
Pricetown (continuation of Oley Church), 1740-'80- 1807 (vacant)
UNITED BRETHREN
Caernarvon: (Morgantown).
Union, Greshville J. Weller 112
2.278
5th District-West Reading, Wyomissing, Spring, Lower Heidelberg Name Supt. Members
First Reformed, Wernersville. Leonard M. Ruth 256 Trinity Lutheran. Wernersville .... T. C. Bricker 95 Green Terrace Un., Wernersville. . John A. Werner 89 Oak Hill Union, Lower Heidelberg. Solomon A. Brossman 153
Kissinger's Union, Spring Tp ....... Henry G. Kissinger 82 Marsh Union, Lorah. . A. L. Bickel 77
Olive Leaf Union, Fritztown .. .. E. R. Eckenroth 139
St. John's Ref., Sinking Spring ... E. H. Zechman 210
Salem U. B., Sinking Spring ...... H. M. Cake
115
St. John's Luth., Sinking Spring. . Henry H. Yost
186
St. James Ref., West Reading. . . Milton Gring
431 94 Vinemont Union, Spring Tp ....... Henry Johnson
Evans Union, Spring Tp .. . .A. I.
Ñoll 69
Bethany Lutheran, West Reading. . W. O. Laub
266
Memorial U. E., Mohn's Hill.
55
2,266
6th District-Hamburg, Tilden, Windsor, Upper Bern Name
Supt. Members .
Bethany M. E., Hamburg. . H. R. Shollenberger 159
St. John's Lutheran, Hamburg. .. . H. C. Kline 363
Salem U. E., Hamburg ... . William B. Miller 68
First Reformed, Hamburg. . Irvin A. Diener
308
St. Paul's Union, Windsor Tp .. .. Isaac Krick
106
Liberty Cross Roads Union. Tilden.C. F. S. Ketner
77
St. Michael's Union, Tilden .. F. H. Naftzinger, O. F.
Berger 295
Bern Union, Tilden. . P. E. Naftzinger 74
West Hamburg Union, Tilden ... Alfred M. H. DeLong 106
Zion's Union, Windsor. A. F. Baver .. 195 Shartlesville Union, Sbartlesville. . James F. Naftzinger 222
Salem U. B., Tilden. . .V. K. Fisher 96
Bern Union, Upper Bern. . H. M. Heckman 75
2,137
7th District-Topton, District, Longswamp, Hereford Name Supt.
Members
Grace U. E., Topton. Edgar Rohrbach 118
St. Peter's Union, Topton .F. J. Fisher 215 Longswamp Union. Longswamp. .. Roy E. Maybry. 121
Pilgert's Union, Longswamp.
Bush's Union, Longswamp. . Augustus R. Frey
St. Paul's Union, Mertztown.
.Charles B. Miller 134
Hancock Union, Longswamp
. Charles B. Miller 140
141 Sterner's Union, District. Peter K. Sterner 64
Landisville Union. District .. Elmer H. Bechtel 49
Huff's Church Union, Hereford. . Jacob Gries 170
Chapel Union, Hereford .. .Fred W. Huber 169
Schlossburg Union, Longswamp .... Lizzie M. Findly 93
1,406
8th District-Mt. Penn, Lower Alsace, Exeter, Amity, Earl Name
Supt. Members
Members St. Lawrence Union, Esterly. W. D. Brumbach 282
Bethany Union, Stony Creek Mills. R. J. Calm 160
Baumstown Union, Baumstown. .. . C. L. Shantz 128
Snyderville Union, Limekiln . Chas. Knaab
99
Trinity Reformed. Mt. Penn .. .J. R. Dickenson 105
Locust Dale U. E., Locust Dale ... I. M. Kehler 138
Union Union, Monocacy .. I. R. Kline 80
Lorane Union, Lorane
J. E. Troxell 103
96
Douglassville Un., Douglassville .. . C. H. Hine 90
Jacksonwald Union, Jacksonwald. . C. R. Bortz
8.2
Amityville Union, Athol.
C. R. Geiger
95
Weavertown Un., Brumfieldsville. .. H. Y. Harbold
95
Stonersville Union, Stonersville. .. . Charles Kline
90
Allsorts Union, Neversink H. S. Ludwig
60
St. Gabriel's Episc., Douglassville. . S. McElwee
90
Faith Lutheran, Mt. Penin ......... George Hartline
98
1,886
Zion's Evangelical, New Berlin-
H. B. Stauffer 40
Union, Pine Iron Works. Mrs. F. Kurtz 103
Bethany U. E., Clayton Wm. Clemmer 90
Union, Gabelsville Jesse R. Bechtel 114
Name
Fairview Union, Baumstown. Howard Happle
€9 64
52
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
9th District-Alsace, Oley, Pike
Name Supt. Members
Oley Union, Spangsville. John P. Fisher 143 Perkiomen .. P. H. Lash 325
St. Joseph's Union, Hill Church. . . D. M. Diener 110 St. John's Mission Luth., Chap-
Frieden's Lutheran, Oley. J. P. Schell 190 el Terrace above Cotton .A. Bendel 106
Frieden's Reformed, Oley J. B. Leinbach 238 St. Peter's Luth., No. 931 Doug- lass .A. A. Koser 50
Spies's Union, Alsace Tp.
Charles B. Moyer
220
116
St. Paul's Union, Lobachsville .... L. F. Rohrbach Bethany U. E., Manatawny .. . Charles L. Scherer 83
1,199
Ioth District-Centreport, Centre, West Leesport, Bern Name Supt. Members
Bern Church Union, Bern Tp .. .... Jared L. Snyder
White Oak Union, Bern Tp ........ Jared L. Snyder 89 Holy Cross, M. E., N. Fifth nr.
Meeting House Evang., Bern Tp. .. John Schaurer 55 Buttonwood Walter S. Davis 476
Epler's Church Union, Bern Tp .. .. F. B. Ammarell 147
Belleman's Union, Centre Tp ...... A. D. Bagenstose 1,31
Bethany U. E., West Leesport. .... Samuel Bell 52
724
IIth District-Fleetwood, Ruscombmanor, Maiden-Creek, Richmond Name Supt. Members
St. John's Union, Pricetown Mrs. u. Web. Brown. .. 92
Mennonite Brethren, Blandon . Oscar B. Adam 59
St. Paul's Union, Fleetwood .. .C. H. Adam
242
U. E., Fleetwood. .D. F. Kelchner
175
Blandon Union, Blandon. . Jacob Shuman
187
Kirbyville Union. Kirbyville. Irvin Hoch
55
1.10
Center Union, Moselem Springs .. . Howard Rahn
Schlemmsville Union, Molltown. . . B. Adam
97
Walnuttown 'Un., near Fleetwood. Matthias Montz 89
St. Stephen's U. E., Virginville. . . William Shappel 90
Salem U. E., Pricetown ..
. Mrs. Catharine Moyer
49
12th District-Mohnton, Cumru, Brecknock
Name Supt.
Members
Eshleman's Union, Cumru Charles Griffith 123 Kerper
Wyomissing Luth., Gouglersville ... Sadie Price 156 ton wood
Allegheny Union, Knauer's. 171
Wyomissing Un., Gonglersville. ... Frank Eckenroth
193
Millmont Baptist, Millmont ..
Harry Stetler
82
Oakbrook Lutheran. Oakbrook ... Grace Lutheran, Shillington ... . J. S. Nagle
80
Salem Evangelical. Mohnton John Werner
. W. A. Miller
274
St. John's Lutheran, Mohnton .. C. B. Kindt. .
W. W. Andrews
Angelica Union, Cumru H. O. Frey
140
Gebhart's Union, Cumru .. . Henry Seyfert 132
Five Mile House Union, Cumru. . .J. White 112
St. Luke's U. E., Shillington. .C. E. Coller 180
Name 13th District-Reading, Muhlenberg
2,771
Supt. Members
St. Mark's Reformed, Greenwich and Ritter
.. D. V. R. Ludwig 1,575
First Reformed, Washington and Reed .. Selos R. Barnett 1,384 St. Stephen's Reformed, Ninth
and Greenwich .W. D. DeLong. 1,266 St. Andrew's Reformed, Spruce and Miller .C. H. Leinbach 1,135 Zion's Reformed, Washington and Cedar 816
Andrew S. Long
St. Paul's Reformed, Sixth above Washington St. John's Reformed, Ninth and Chestnut . William A. Levan 704
Calvary Reformed, Centre Ave. and Oley
A. V. Casselman 642 St. Thomas' Reformed, Eleventh and Windsor .E. F. Hendricks 610 Second Reformed, Sixth below Cherry . John H. Bridenbaugh 494
Faith Reformed, Bingaman bet. Fourth and Fifth Alsace Grace Reformed, Kutztown Road
. George McKently 339 Olivet Reformed, Contre Ave. and Exeter William Leinbach 180 Temple Reformed, Temple, Pa. Joseph A. Wise 114
St. Luke's Lutheran, N. Ninth near Green Benj. Gruber 1,255 Trinity Lutheran, Sixth and
Washington . A. Raymond Bard 885 Grace Lutheran, Eleventh and J. C. Holloway 784 Cherry
St. Ibn's Luth., Church and
Walnut A. Bendel 709 Hope Luth., Front and Green- wich
St. Matthew's Luth., Fifth and
Elm
St. Tames Luth.,
Fifth and
Samuel K. Knabb 545
Windsor Henry E. Hilbert 489
Alsace Lutheran, Kutztown Road D. D. Becker 349
St. Paul's Luth., Sixteenth and
Peace Lutheran, Riverside
Covenant, M. E., Ninth and Elm H. J. Printz 584
St. Peter's M. E., Fifth and Pine .
.F. F. Boas 483
Windsor St., M. E., Front and
250 Windsor
.. W. H. Morris 482
People's M. E., S. Fourth above Franklin
.A. W. Heim 288
Bethel A. M. E., N. Tenth nr. Washington T. J. Long 86
People's Primitive M. E., No.
1325 N. Tenth . Bert LeSuer J38
East End M. E., No. 1338 N. Tenth F. C. S. Snyder 70
First U. E., Eighth and Court . W. H. Hendel 971
St. Paul's U. E., Moss and Greenwich . William W. Fetter 758
Grace U. E., Sixth and Elm ...... S. N. Walley 407
Trinity U. E., S. Eleventh near Spruce
. H. J. Heck, 275
Bethany U. E., Second, and Doug- lass
. William H. Miller, Jr. .. 540 Immanuel Evan., S. Sixth and
Harry Eisenberg
420
. Walter C. Hoffman 397
R. B. Davis 376
St. Matthew's Evan., Eighteenth and Cotton
. George Boyer 218
Salem U. B., Tenth and Spring ... F. G. Leibold 618
Zion's U. B., Ninth below Penn. . William J. Levan
479
Memorial U. B., Buttonwood and McKnight
.. . William E. Taylor
401
Otterbein U. B., Eighth and Elm G. Walter Behney
272
First Baptist, Fifth and Chestnut. . H. G. Kurtz 568
Berean Baptist, N. Ninth above Douglass
. R. A. Rankin 236
Schyl. Av. Baptist, Schyl Av. nr ... Greenwich
David H. Wyle 139
Zion Baptist, No. 231 Poplar .. . Mrs. E. D. Harris 57
Shiloh Baptist, No. 126 N. Tenth. . Mrs. Mary Clippent 28
German Baptist, between Green-
wich and Oley Tim Wiess 97
St. Barnabas Epis., Sixth and Bingaman
Ira W. Stratton 251 Christ Episcopal, Fifth and Court. . Thomas P. Merritt 197
St. Mary's Epis., Front and
Windsor
St. Luke's Epis., Robeson and Mulberry
William B. Burk 135
First Presbyterian, Fifth nr.
H. J. Hayden 348 Olivet Pres., Eighth and Wash- . J. R. Mortimer 388
ington ..
Washington St. Pres., Mulberry
and Washington Geo. T. Hawkins 130
First Christian, Chris., Chestnut above Fourth Morris S. Glass 140
Church of Our Father, Univ.,
Franklin above Fourth Samuel F. Guss 114
Mennonite Breth., Men., Tenth near Oley 160
Friendship Mission, Reformed
Evan., Cotton above Tenth .. . Jacob H. Kutz 173
Calvary Mission, Followers of
Christ, Washington nr Second. . Herbert Green 112
People's Mission, Followers of
Christ, Little Gordon . . . Pastor 106
No. 219 Mifflin . Mrs. Rishell 35
Neversink, Interdcnom., No. 728
. C. W. Haug 552 Bingaman ... A. H. Reist 121 Temple, Interdenom., Temple, Pa ... A. H. Reist 60
Adventists, Windsor and Hamp-
den
58
Ebenezer Evan., Nintb near But-
Christ Evan., Eleventh and Rob- eson
100 220
Emanuel Reformed, Shillington. . Zion's U. E., Mohnton. George H. Leininger 430 220
Yocum's Union, Grill .. 158
Rev. C. E. Creitz 756 Franklin
. Dr. D. S. Grim 476
Jacob T. Drumheller 651
Chestnut
St. Mark's Luth., Tenth and
1,245
Salem Evangelical, Eighth near Court
150
Zion U. E., Oley ...
.I. M. Bertolet
99
Mifflin St., Followers of Christ,
H. P. Walter 194
EDUCATION IN COUNTY
53
Scientists, Christian Science, No. 429 Walnut Lillian D. Wilson 24
Hinnersbitz Union, Reformed
and Lutb., Tuckerton .. William Fisher 248
30,199
Perry Union, Virginville Evangelical, Leesport
25 Mrs. Amanda Yob 81 Wilson P. Adam Frank W. Adam 48
1,224
14th District-Bethel, Tulpehocken, Upper Tulpehocken Name Supt. Members Host Union, Tulpehocken
.O. F. Oxenreider, W. W. Derr 152
Zion's Union, Strausstown .C. A. Unger 191 St. Jobn's Reformed, Mt. Aetna .C. P. Klopp 115
U. B., Mt. Aetna
.John D. Klopp 70
61
District
No. of
Schools
Open
Year
Officers
Teachers
Scholars
Total
Enrollment
Moll's Union, Upper Tulpe- bocken . .L. C. Freeman 52
German Baptist. Crosskill Mills. Ira Gibble
58
1st
12
12
177
1,599
1,776
Ziegler's Baptist, Rehrersburg. Henry C. Ziegler
2d
8
7
115
807
1,003
Merkey's Baptist, Bethel
Samuel Sherman
66
Bethel Union, Bethel
P. C. Clemmens 118
3d
11
4
167
965
1,171
Keener's Union, Tulpehock- en
F. J. Paulus,
50
Schubert's Union, Bethel James R. Roth 46
John Porter 4,8
6th
13
10
255
1,731
2,137
7th
12
5
213
1,173
· 1,406
8th
17
17
272
1,563
1,887
9th
8
7
148
990
10th
6
2
134
590
724
Pleasant
Berger's Union, Scull Hill. ... M. J. Potteiger 130
12th
16
12
314
2,437
2,771
St. Paul's Union, Jefferson Tp. . James M. Baltheiser
64
Groff's Union, Jefferson Tp .. . Percival Groff
75
14th
16
11
230
1,031
1,326
15th
8
5
178
601
809
ville S. P. Wilbelm
155
16th
14
10
269
1,829
2,153
Frieden's Lutheran, Bernville
J. Paul Burket 62
17th
12
10
184
1,235
1,459
Mills
B. J. Anderson .100
18th
9
7
167
1,054
1,224
Total
273
217
6,077
46,534
57,032
Name
Supt. Members
St. John's Reformed, Kutz-
. Clem. J. Stichler 333
St. Paul's Lutheran, Lyons . J. A. Stierwalt
140
Christ's Reformed, Bowers .. . J. J. DeLong
101
Zion's Union, Maxatawny .... Joel Heffner, George C. Her- mann 250
St. Paul's Reformed, Kutz-
town
.Francis Sharidan
153
Trinity Luth., Kutztown
Quinton D. Hermann
274
Union Union, Lyons
.S. M. Hoch 100
St. John's Lutheran, Kutz-
town
. Samuel Heffner 224
Grace U. E., Kutztown
. Thomas S. Levan 92
Christ's_Lutheran, Dryville
. Amos F. Breidegam 137
New Jerusalem Reformed, Rockland
. A. A. DeLong 109
Bethel Union. Rockland
. William A. Schwoyer 104
Ruppert's Union, Rockland
. A. F. Ruppert "6
Dryville Union, Rockland A. S. Aungstadt €0
2,153
17th District-Womelsdorf, Heidelberg, Marion, North Heidelberg Name
Supt. Members
Robesonia Reformed, Robe-
sonia
J. L. J. Stoudt 174
U. E., Robesonia Jacob B. Putt 45
U. E., Womelsdorf .A. Bauch 68
Stouchsburg Union, Stouchs- burg
.P. W. Gerhart 154
Bethany O. Home Ref., Wom-
elsdorf
. Wilson T. Moore 152
St. Daniel's Lutheran, Robe- sonia
.H. W. Shuler 127
Good Samaritan Union. Wom- elsdorf
.C. R. Leinbach 260
Tannery Union, Heidelberg
... Dr. F. F. Massey G8
Hill Union, North Heidel-
Thos. J. Zerbe
99
Zion's Lutheran, Stouchsburg. . E. H. Kline 132
Long's Lutheran, Stouchsburg .A. J. Long 00
Moyer's Union, Marion Tp ..... Edwin Miller 90
1,459
18th District-Leesport, Perry, Ontelaunee
Name
Supt.
Members
Salem U. B., Shoemakers- ville
.H. S. Madeira 130
Trinity Union, Leesport C. E. Spayd 223 ..
Union, Shoemakersville W. K. Smith 244
SUNDAY MAILS .- During the winter of 1829-30, a great excitement prevailed throughout the coun- try respecting the transportation of mails on Sun- days. Attempts had been made by petitions of cer- tain religious societies to the Congress of the prev- ious year, to induce legislation on the subject, but the general remonstrance was so earnest that the committee of reference reported adversely, inti- mating that Congress ought not, and could not, legally exercise the power of legislation on ques- tions involving religious observance and the rights of conscience; and these attempts were renewed before the Congress then sitting, causing the de- velopment of great feeling everywhere on the sub- ject.
A large meeting of citizens of the county was held in the court-house at Reading on Jan. 23, 1830, for the purpose of uttering a protest against inter- ference on the one hand or legislation on the other, and a committee of distinguished citizens was ap- pointed to draft appropriate resolutions. It was
composed of David F. Gordon, Esq., George M. Keim, Esq., George Fox, Isaac Ritter and Dr. Wil- liam J. C. Baum. The attempts to induce legisla- tion prohibiting the transportation of mail on Sun- day were disapproved, because it was believed that such attempts were incipient steps toward the at- tainment of an object fatal to religious freedom- the union of civil and ecclesiastical authority in the same individuals.
Appropriate petitions were circulated, subscribed by many persons, and these were forwarded to
Name
Supt.
Members
Mt. Pleasant Union, Mt. . James O. Kreider 130
11th
11
6
203
1,042
1,245
Jefferson Union, Jefferson Tp .. Daniel Reigel
93
13th
73
73
2,451
24,089
30,199
St. Thomas' Union, Bern-
4th
12
10
235
1,983
2,278
5th
15
9
365
1,815
2,265
Merkey's Union, Bethel
E. G. Moyer
105
Lutheran, Rebrersburg W. J. Kurr
67
Union, Wintersville . Ralph Weber 55
Union, Mohrsville
James H. Wagner 169
Zion's Union, Windsor Cas-
tle Gernant's Union, Leesport Ebenezer Evangelical, Shoe -.. makersville
A. F. Baver 204
. Charles L. Kersbner 100
GENERAL SUMMARY
No. of
Lutheran, Mt. Aetna
Jobn A. Gruber
Union, Rebrersburg
all
and
72
1,326
15th District-Bernville, Jefferson, Penn
1,199
16th District-Kutztown, Maxatawny, Rockland
809
town
Cross Keys Union, Krick's
berg
54
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Congress; and this expression of public sentiment
On July 31, 1750, a beginning was made to dis- caused the religious movement to cease its agitation solve the Moravian school in Frederick township, and finally pass away. The transportation of mail by transferring pupils to other schools, and in the on Sunday was not prohibited, but continued as a last week of August, 1750, sixteen were transferred work of necessity.
GENERAL EDUCATION
EARLY ENCOURAGEMENT .- The first settlers ap- preciated the importance of education, and encour- aged it as a means of promoting the general welfare. They erected churches wherever they had effected a considerable settlement, and in them they caused their children to be taught the common branches of education, such as spelling, reading, writing and arithmetic. This teaching was influenced to a great degree by the religious spirit that prevailed amongst them; indeed, religious principles were considered a vital part of their education.
During the first settlements and until the passage of the common school law of 1834, the education that prevailed throughout the length and breadth of the county was almost entirely German. The prevalence of German education was a natural con- sequence from the great predominance of German settlers over all other nationalities. In Exeter, Oley, Maiden-creek, Robeson, and Reading districts, the Friends were rather numerous, and they established English schools at an early period, which they con- tinued for many years.
The first German settlers had brought along teach- ers and ministers, who were so recognized before emigration. If there were no minister, the teacher officiated in both capacities. Some teachers even practised their trades, such as tailoring or shoemak- ing, whilst teaching.
A notion has obtained that education was not car- ried on to any considerable extent in the county at an early day, and till the adoption of the common school system, but this is wrong. A good idea can be obtained from the following extract from a let- ter, dated Reading, April 9, 1763, addressed by Rev. Alexander Murray to the secretary of the Venerable Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, stationed in England :
The county for miles around this town is thick peopled, but what few else than Germans and Quakers, the former being computed twelve to one of all other nations together, and seem to be abundantly well provided in teachers of one denomination or another, and as long as they are so blindly attached to their native tongue, as they are at present, an English minister can be of no great service to them. For this they might be at no loss for English school-masters, yet they choose to send their children rather to 'German schools, which they have everywhere in great plenty.
to Oley.
FIRST TEACHERS .- The following persons were teachers before 1752:
George Stiefel, John Nicholas Kurtz, and Casper Leut- becker in Tulpehocken.
Frederick Hoelwig in Longswamp.
John Valentine Krafft in Richmond.
Theodore Schneider in Hereford.
George Youngman in Oley.
In 1743, the following provision was made in Richmond township toward the encouragement of teaching :
That it is our most earnest desire that the teacher, as well as the preacher, shall be fairly compensated so that he can live with his family as an honest man, without being obliged to engage in any business foreign to his profession. To this end the teacher and the preacher shall have the land and the house on it free, as long as they officially serve the congregation.
Pay schools were maintained in every district, the pupils paying several cents a day, according to the number of branches taught; and this custom pre- vailed from the beginning until long after the sys- tem of 1834 had been introduced.
Parochial schools were carried on and encouraged in connection with churches in the several sections of the county, being always situated near by. The preachers, elders and deacons were expected to see that the teacher maintained good order and that each pupil received proper attention. The teacher had to possess a good character, and ability to sing and teach singing as well as to teach the common branches.
CHARITY SCHOOLS .- A charitable society was es- tablished early for the instruction of poor Germans and their descendants in Pennsylvania. Previous to 1751, certain Reformed ministers who had settled among the immigrants found them in distress. They entreated the churches of Holland to commiserate their unhappy fellow-Christians, and contributions were sent to these remote parts. In 1751, Holland and West Friesland granted two thousand guilders per annum for five years toward instructing the Germans and their children in Pennsylvania. Great encouragement was given to this scheme by per- sons of the first rank in Great Britain, King George III. having contributed £1,000 toward this object, and the Princess Dowager of Wales £100; and the proprietaries engaged to give a considerable sum every year to promote the undertaking. The society then adopted certain resolutions for the management of the scheme, and proposed a plan for establishing schools. The Governor of the Province recognized the utility of the scheme and appointed a board of trustees for its proper direc-
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